Directional control of seaplanes



Patented July ltd, 1925.

STATES ADOLF EOHBBACH, 0F GHARLOTTENBURG, GEBIBEANY.

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF SEAPLANES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anonr ROI-IRBAOH,

citizen of the German Reich, residing at harlottenlmrg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful lmproven'ients in Directional Controls of Seaplanes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact des *ription of the invention, such will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is relative to a directional control of seaplanes on the water by a drag anchor.

it is very diflicult, if not impossible, even under ordinary circumstances, to steer the ordinary seaplane after it has landed on the surface of the water because the propeller or propellers exert a gyroscopic ettect tending to produce a circulatory niovement ot the seaplai'ie. This ditliculty is greatly increased if the seaplane is equipped with two propellers and only one of them is running. l urtherniore, if a strong cross wind is blowing, this tends to prevent holding the seaplane on its course, especially in view of the factthat pra tically the entire structure of the seaplane, comprising extensive wind-resistant surfaces, is exposed to the action of the wind. The air rudder of the seaplane, which may have been effectivewhile the seaplane was in the air to fully counteract the forces tending to throw the seaplane oil its course, is not able to fully counteract such forces after the seaplane has alighted on the surface of the water, due to the comparative low speed of the seaplane on the water, and it is not possible, without adding more weight than is desirable, to provide a water rudder of sutlicient size to steer the seaplane on the surface of the water.

This invention ensures the maneuverability of seaplanes on the surface of the water in the event of a one-sided propulsion or/and in the event that a strong side wind tending to throw the seaplane oll' its course is blowing by a special shifting of the resistances which are to be overcome by the propulsion, from their normal position in the central plane into the plane of the respective driving force. '1 his is most practically done by attaching a drag anchor close to the wing tip and on that side on which all driving screws are still working. The rope of the drag anchor must be long enough not to pull the wing tip too much downwards.

Application filed March 24, 1924-.

Serial No. 701,497.

The way of fastening the anchor line is most simple on seaplanes with wings strong enough to permit a person to walk thereon. One man of the crew takes the end of the anchor rope to the wing tip and fastens it by means of a shackle or in any other simple manner to a ring with which the wing is provided.

If the wing cannot be walked upon, the anchor may be kept in a pocket or cavity in the interior of the wing, or else lying flat to the outer skin, if not in use. By a rope or some other similar means, the unfastening can be effected from the room of the crew.

In order to alter the resistance of the drag anchor so that with varied speed. it makes straight taxying possible, it is practical to either regulate the resistance with which the anchor meets in the water, by suitable alteration of its form or its positionin the water, or else to remove as far as necessary, the fastening point of the anchor rope in the direction of the span.

I claim:

1. A method for counteracting the tendency of a seaplane, when traveling 011 the surface of the water, to travel in a circulatory course comprising drawing through the water a device tending to retard movement of that side of the seaplane which tends to move forward at a greater speed than that of the other side.

2. A method for counteracting the tendency of a seaplane, when traveling on the surface of the water, to travel in a circulatory course comprising drawing through the water a drag-anchor attached by a long flexible connection to a wing of the seaplane, said drag anchor tending to retard movement of that side of the seaplane to which the drag anchor is attached.

3. A method for counteracting the tendency of a seaplane, when traveling on the surface of the water, to travel in a circulatory course comprising drawing through the water a device attached to and tending to retard movementof that side of the seaplane which tends to move forward at a greater speed than that of the other side, the point of attachment of said device being movable relative to the fore and aft center line of the seaplane to thereby regulate the retarding action of said device.

4".- A method for counteracting the tendency of a seaplane, when traveling on the surface of the*water, to travel in a circulatory course comprising drawing" through the Water a device tending to retard movement of that side of the seaplane Which tends to move forward at agreater speed 5 than that of the other side, the resistance which said device offers to passage through the Water being regulable.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

DR. ADOLF ROHRBACH. Vitnesses:

VVLAD; ENDRES,1 E. I-Io. GERMAIN. 

